The Newsletter of the Westchester Chapter - American Guild of Organists SEPTEMBER 2014 VOLUME 13, #1

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1 The Trompette The Newsletter of the Westchester Chapter - American Guild of Organists SEPTEMBER 2014 VOLUME 13, #1 Greetings from the Dean.Dear Colleagues, Well, it s hard to believe that it s Labor Day, a holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September and dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. September? Wasn t it just the beginning of summer, when we all were looking forward to a well-deserved break from our regular routine some wonderful relaxation, no choir rehearsals, a real time to recharge our batteries! Well, I, for one, always look forward to the summer and all that it brings; however, I have to admit, I get just as excited when September rolls around I LOVE planning for the new program year. I LOVE when my choirs come back together, refreshed and excited about a new season. I LOVE the energy when playing and singing hymns to a full church again on Sunday mornings in festive corporate worship. Yes, the summer is necessary for all of these things to happen with renewed enthusiasm. The same is true for the AGO! That time away allows us to get more excited about coming together in the new season. The board has worked very hard on planning an exciting year of events, when we can come together refreshed and excited to see each other, to learn from each other and to be energized by our colleagues. The program year is outlined in this newsletter and I encourage you to make the AGO a priority this year. Come to as many events as you can; you will not be disappointed! The first event is on Sunday, Sept 14 at Union Church in Pocantico Hills where we will have a private, lectured tour of the Chagall and Matisse windows. If you have not seen them, this is a spectacular way to experience them for first time. If you have seen them, this tour will surely shine some light on their history and give you a new look at them. After that, 3 amazing young organists will perform for us on Sebastian Gluck s stunningly beautiful three manual instrument, Op. 11. And after that, the wine and food will be served on the spectacular grounds and we can all spend some time catching up! You will not want to miss this kick-off event and all of the other great events this year. Please make sure you come and say hello to me at this events and tell me YOUR plans for the coming year! See you on Sunday, Sept 14 at 4:30 PM. Please RSVP to me, if possible. EXECUTIVE BOARD DEAN Dr. John T. King SUB-DEAN Lana Kollath SECRETARY Karen Longwell REGISTRAR/TREASURER Kevin Walsh DIRECTORS Michael Goodman, Class of 15 Edwin Wallace, Class of 15 Terence Flanagan, Class of 16 Mi-Won Kim, Class of 16 Margaret Kim, Class of 17 Frank Miller, Class of 17 CHAPTER COORDINATORS AGO CERTIFICAN & EDUCATION Dr. Robert A. Chase NEWSLETTER EDITOR Alice Avouris DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Dale Bonenberger MEMBERSHIP Joyce Gardner PLACEMENT / SUBSTITUTES Kevin Walsh WEBMASTER Virginia Bender JTK, Dean

2 Westchester AGO Program Schedule Sunday, September 14, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Rising Stars Recital and Fellowship Union Church of Pocantico Hills, Tarrytown, NY HOST: Dr. Samuel Chapin Schedule of Events: 4:30 A private guided tour of the Chagall and Matisse windows, 5:15 A mini organ recital by some of today s young Rising Stars, including NYACOP winner Ryan Kennedy, Daniel Ficarri, CAGO and Nora Dynowski 5:45 Cocktails, heavy hors d Oeuvres and fellowship This event is FREE and open to ALL AGO members. Guests of members and potential new members are welcome. Tuesday, October 21, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Practical Service Improvisation Workshop with Justin Bishof Host:TBD 7:00-8:15 PM Workshop with Justin Bishof, Music Director, St James the Less, Scarsdale and former faculty member of Manhattan School of Music, winner of the AGO National Competition in Improvisation 8:15-8:30--Improvisation by Dr. Bishof on submitted themes 8:30-9:00--Wine and Cheese/Dessert Sunday, Nov 16, 4:00 p.m. Member's Recital, Host:TBD 2

3 No meeting in December Sunday, Jan 4, 2015 Twelfth Night Party, Host: TBD Annual Pot-luck gathering--details to Follow No Meeting in February Sunday, March 1, 2015, 4:00 p.m. Chelsea Chen, Solo Organ Recital Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, Scarsdale, NY Host: John T. King Reception to Follow Saturday April 25 and Sunday, April 26, 2015 Community Hymn Festival with Dr. John Walker, AGO National President Details to follow Saturday Schedule: 9:00-9:30 Registration with coffee and danish 9:30-11:30--rehearsal for choir participants/members Sunday Schedule: 2:30-3:30 rehearsal 4:00 PM Service 5:30-6:30 reception Final Event--Dinner or Cruise--date and location TBD 3

4 Concert Calendar Second Sundays at the Osborn 101 Theall Rd. Rye, N.Y (800) ; Noriko Yamada coordinates the organists at the Osborn Retirement Home for their monthly organ recital series. Please contact her at or ************ Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 PM Briarcliff Congregational Church Hui-Mei Lin, pianist, Naomi Merer, soprano, Eric Drucker, clarinet. Free-will offering for a local charity The program will include Mozart s Sonata in C Major, three Liszt song transcriptions for piano, the Bach-Busoni Chaconne in D minor; songs by Peter Frost for soprano, piano and clarinet, Hugo Wolff, and Schubert s "Der Hirt auf dem Felsen" (The Shepherd on the Rock) for soprano, piano and clarinet. Reads & Mixtures WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Alberto Gancitano Music Director and Organist St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Mohegan Lake Richard J. Heschke, DMA Director of Music, Church of Our Savior, Lutheran Manhasset NY As we go to press, about half our members have renewed. If you re one of them, we thank you! If not, please go to or use the link in the you received from headquarters. Members without should have received a renewal notice in the US mail. If you need an assistance with your renewal, please contact our registrar, Kevin Walsh. From Frank Miller: How I Was Introduced to and Started to Play the Organ (This is the first on what we hope will be a series. Please send us your own story for future editions of The Trompette. Alice Avouris) As a young, elementary age boy attended the West Center Church in Yonkers and only heard the piano in Sunday School. What a shame Fred Swann was the organist playing on a Hammond C-3 organ in the sanctuary. My parents brought me to a Porter Heeps concert at a local Hammond dealership. It resulted in my father buying a Hammond spinet organ. I had been playing the piano for about 4 years and started to fool around with the Hammond. Then my 4

5 parents brought me to Radio City Music Hall and I heard and saw a real organ. I was floored and decided that I wanted to know how to play that magnificent instrument. As luck would have it, I was doing little concerts with other talented students when I was 15 and Harry Odell organized the shows. When I turned 16 he convinced my parents to let me go down to Radio City and help him tune and maintain the organs there. (There is a 2 nd practice organ away from the Hall organ that has two consoles.) I had to go to sleep at 7:30 p.m. and get up at 4:00 a.m. Harry would get us downtown, work on the instrument, get back home by 7:15, eat breakfast and get to Roosevelt High School. Fortunately for me, this was not every day. It was hard for me to go to sleep at 7:30 p.m. and easy for me to sleep at 2:20 p.m. in a very relaxed and boring English class. I was very lucky to have some great teachers Fred Swann at Riverside, Dr. John Davis at the military academy were tops. I had my first church organist position in 1962 while still in high school and with only a few brief interruptions played through military and civilian times until August 2013 when an interim pastor at my church fired everyone that was paid staff. I also got to play that Wurlitzer at Radio City for 35 performances and have subbed at Madison Square Garden for hockey and basketball games. Some of the other places I have played in are Memorial Methodist Church, Yonkers; Church of Our Savior, Yonkers; USAF Chapels and Hangars (overseas on everything from a Farfisa to a pumped reed organ); Airline Baptist Church, New Orleans; Concordia College; Community Church, Mt. Vernon; Holy Family, New Rochelle; First Baptist, White Plains and St. Mark s, Yonkers. Currently, I am the organist for six Masonic Lodges, Mecca Temple (Shriners) and the Eastern Star (Women s Pleasantside Chapter.) The over 350 weddings I have played for sometimes defy description and could be the topic for a book on people that may have been deprived of enough oxygen during the birth process. Frank Miller ************* Empty Benches If you know of an open bench in your area, please have the institution's official representative (congregation's president, rabbi, cantor, priest, minister, etc.) be in touch with our acting placement director. We'd like to share news of open positions with our chapter members. Please let us know if you hear of an available position. ADDRESS: Placement@agowestchester.org Kevin Walsh, Acting Placement Director. ****************** Church pianist for Croton Unitarian Church (9/14) We are seeking a pianist to play Sundays 9-12 $125 and Thurs. for choir rehearsal 7:30-8:30 PM $45 Michael cell St. Patrick s Cathedral, NY, NY (9/14) Assistant Director of Music; Job ID: ; Entry Level: No Job Type: Full-Time; Job Duration: Indefinite; Min Education: BA/BS/Undergraduate Min Experience: 3-5 Years; Required Travel: None; Posted: August 13, 2014 Salary: $45, $50, (Yearly Salary); Salary Negotiable: No Number of Weekly Services: 5 or more; Number of Weekly Rehearsals: 1 Ensembles: Adult Choir; Number Supervised: 1; Hours per Week: Organ Description: 150-rank Kilgen Benefits: Health Insurance, Retirement/pension, Sick Leave, Vacation 5

6 Congregation Size: More than 1000 Job Description: Full-time assistant director of music for highly visible Roman Catholic Cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of New York. The assistant director of music will collaborate with cathedral staff in continuing excellence and fostering growth in a very active and nationally recognized music department. Responsibilities include serving as organist for weekend and weekday liturgies, some of which are broadcast on SIRIUS XM satellite radio; assisting as accompanist for the cathedral choir in the absence of the associate director of music; assisting with the organ recitals and coordinating visiting choir concerts; and assisting in the administration of the department in regards to scheduling, liturgies, the Cathedral Concert Series among many aspects. The assistant director of music will work closely with the director of music, associate director of music, music administrator, and assistant organist. The successful candidate will possess superior organ performance abilities, improvisation and service playing skills as well as thorough familiarity with the Roman Rite. Five-manual, 150-rank Kilgen organ. Salary commensurate with experience and education including benefits. Send a formal letter of interest, a résumé, and supporting materials to Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Director of Music at the above address. Contact Person: Dr. Jennifer Pascual Address: jenniferpascual@saintpatrickscathedral.org Web Site: Street Address: 460 Madison Ave Daytime Phone: Ext. 787 *********** Minister of Music, Montville Reformed Church, Montville, NJ (9/14) Entry Level: Yes; Job Type: Part-Time; Job Duration: 1-2 Years Min Education: BA/BS/Undergraduate Location(s): Montville, New Jersey, 07045, United States Posted: August 4, 2014; Min Experience: 3-5 Years Salary: $14, $20, (Yearly Salary); Salary Negotiable: Yes Number of Weekly Services: 1; Number of Weekly Rehearsals: 1 Ensembles: Chancel Choir; Hours per Week: 1-8 Congregation Size: Less than 100; Organ Description: Electronic Allen Contact Person: Reverend Charles Bigelow at Montville Reformed Church Address: revcbigelow@optonline.net Web Site: Street Address: 9 Church Lane Daytime Phone: Job Description: The Montville Reformed Church is seeking an enthusiastic individual with an advanced muic degree or equivalent experience who is rooted in the Christian faith to lead a small congregation with music in worship. The applicant should have musical skills in organ, piano, and vocal; other musical instruments are a plus. The successful candidate will inspire, encourage, and develop vocal and instrumental music ministries in cooperation and coordination with the Worship Committee and Pastor. The position will primarily include leading the ministry of music for Sunday Worship, weekly Chancel Choir rehearsals held on Sunday following worship, and occasional special services. If you are interested in pursuing this conversation, contact the Montville Reformed Church at or montref@optonline.net. Job Requirements: Responsibilities include working closely with the Pastor to coordinate worship music and resposes, participating in worship committee meetings, arranging tuning for the organ and piano as needed, and scheduling and working with instrumental and vocal soloists. 6

7 The organist will also be expected to play aids to worship, as well as to accompany worship and special services. The applicant will also assume the responsibilities of Choir Director, which includes music selection and procurement of music, development of new vocal and instrumental groups, and the rehearsal of the Chancel Choir on Sunday following worship. *************** Director of Music, Spring Valley (9/14) We, the United Church of Spring Valley, are seeking to fill the position of our Director of Music. Our previous director retired after 23 years of wonderful service here. It is approximately a half time position. It involves giving leadership & oversight to our entire music program. Our church is relatively small, about 120 members, an average of attendees on any given Sunday. We have a chancel choir of 12 voices, a Moller 1968 pipe organ, 18 rank, with dual manual, & full peddle, a Steinway grand piano, and a couple of other uprights. There is a gospel choir with its own director with whom we would coordinate. There is a modest children's music program with leaders who need some supervision and assistance. Our Sunday services are at 10:00am year-round, with the usual collection of evening services (Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday), typically at 7:30pm. We were paying the previous director $18,000/year, but realize that will need to be reviewed and no doubt increased. The current schedule for rehearsals has been on Sundays, following worship (11:15am - 12:45pm) with a warm-up before worship (9:15-9:45am). Interested individuals can reach Pastor Rob Williams by at rdwilliams1950@live.com, or by phone at (office) or (cell). The church is located at 11 E. Church Street, Spring Valley, NY ***************** Music Director - All Souls Unitarian Church, NY, NY (7/14) Web page: All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City seeks a gifted and visionary musician to serve as full-time Music Director, leading its vigorous music program into a bright and meaningful future. The position offers a tremendous opportunity for artistic expression and growth. The Music Director provides leadership of the music ministry and is responsible for the coordination of all music in the Church. First among her/his responsibilities is to work in close collaboration with the ministerial staff to ensure that the music contributes to and enhances the depth and meaning of the spiritual experience. Among the many great musical resources at All Souls is its outstanding principal choir of professionals and trained amateurs. Also of importance is the provision of organ and other instrumental music, both on its own and to accompany congregational singing. Ideally, the Music Director is an accomplished organist and is at the center of instrumental as well as vocal performance in the church. The church sanctuary features a recently rebuilt Holtkamp organ of 53 ranks, as well as a Steinway B piano. A second Steinway grand piano in the church social hall is used especially for summer services in July and August, which the Director coordinates with a less active role. The Music Director provides expert insight and oversight regarding musical activity generally throughout the Church. S/he administers the music budget and oversees one full-time music support staff. The position reports directly to the Senior Minister. Qualifications: The successful candidate will be a gifted and accomplished musician and a proven leader of stature and imagination. S/he will possess exemplary artistic ideals and great integrity, with personal values resonant with the values of the church. S/he will be a gifted choral conductor. Given that the organ and piano will continue to play important roles in worship at All Souls, it is preferred that the Music Director also be a gifted organist and pianist. 7

8 The strongest candidate will be one who combines the above qualities and qualifications with openness, curiosity, and interest with respect to the diverse ways musical expression and spirituality can intersect. Experience: Significant experience in the role of Music Director, or Assistant Music Director, Choral Conductor and Organist of an active church. Experience in planning and executing concerts of the classical repertory combining choir and instrumentalists. Education and Training: Classical training in conducting, organ and piano; Formal education in liturgical music. At least a Masters degree from a program of strong reputation. The Church: Founded in 1819 and only five years away from its bicentennial, of some 1500 people. Music occupies a central position in all of its worship services as part of an exceptionally strong tradition. All Souls is a Unitarian Universalist church. The Church has three choirs the All Souls Choir which sings at two Sunday morning services from September to mid-june, as well as the Community Choir and a Children s Choir For thirty-seven years, All Souls has also been home to the Musica Viva concert series (described below). The All Souls Choir currently comprises approximately thirty singers (with two to three paid professional soloists in each section). The choir loft, with the adjacent office, houses a three-manual tracker-action organ built by the Holtkamp Organ Company in 1989, and rebuilt by Holtkamp technicians in The organ is used in leading congregational hymns, for service preludes and postludes, and as accompaniment for the All Souls Choir. Other instruments include a modern Steinway B grand piano in the sanctuary, an electronic organ in the chapel, and another Steinway grand piano in Fellowship Hall. Salary is commensurate with experience. All Souls offers a generous benefits package. All Souls values diversity and does not discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation,physical or mental disability, age, or veteran status. Musica Viva: A separately incorporated 501 (C) (3) organization established in 1977 to represent the concert identity of the All Souls Choir. Its founding Artistic Director is Walter Klauss, the outgoing Minister of Music at All Souls. The presence of Musica Viva represents a special opportunity for the Music Director of All Souls. Over the years its performances have developed a loyal audience and have been greatly valued by choir members as an opportunity to work on expansive repertoire and hone their skills as an ensemble. It is the strong hope of the Musica Viva Board and the Church that the successful candidate will be interested in continuing the collaboration between the two organizations. The Musica Viva website may be seen at To apply, send a concise cover letter and resume to asmdapplications@gmail.com. Please see our website for further information. *************** P/T Organist/Pianist Bronx, New York (7/8/14) Job ID: ; Position Title: Organist; Riverdale Presbyterian Church Entry Level: No; Job Type: Part-Time; Job Duration: Indefinite; Min Education: BA/BS/Undergraduate; Min Experience: 2-3 Years; Location(s): Bronx, New York, 10471, United States; Posted: July 2, 2014 Required Travel: 0-10%; Salary: $15, $20, (Yearly Salary) Salary Negotiable: Yes; Number of Weekly Services: 1; Number of Weekly Rehearsals: 1 Ensembles: Chancel Choir; Hours per Week: 8 15; Organ Description: Moller/Austin III/30; Benefits: Book/Music Allowance, Sick Leave, Unemployment, Vacation Contact Person: DiAnn Pierce Address: rpcorganistsearch@gmail.com Evening Phone: Web Site: Congregation Size: Street Address: 4765 Henry Hudson Pkwy Daytime Phone: Fax: Riverdale Presbyterian Church of Bronx, New York seeks a part-time organist/pianist to accompany Sunday service, occasional weddings, funerals and special worship services. Responsibilities include accompanying Chancel Choir for Sunday morning rehearsals, preparing prelude/postlude and several hymns for 10:30 worship service; attending worship planning meetings and working closely with pastor and choir director to plan music for worship services. Church owns a Moller/Austin pipe organ and a Petrof grand piano. Beginning in September 2014, position averages 8-10 hours/week; salary commensurate with AGO guidelines. Please send resume to rpcorganistsearch@gmail.com. 8

9 ******************** ORGANIST/CHOIR DIRECTOR, 1 st Presbyterian Church, Mahopac, NY (6/14) First Presbyterian Church, Mahopac, NY, seeks an Organist/Choir Director. Approximately 10 hours/week; Annual Salary $15,500 (negotiable); 4 weeks vacation. One service each week with music, plus Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and early Easter Day. One Adult Choir, plus possible hand bell choir. The 1995 tracker-action organ was built by Mann and Trupiano; 17 stops/19 ranks. For a printed full job description contact the Rev. Kenneth H. Mast, or presby411@verizon.net ************* DIRECTOR OF MUSIC & ORGANIST, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey (6/14) The Community Church of Mountain Lakes (United Church of Christ) is looking for a motivated individual to serve as Director of Music and Organist. Responsibilities of the position include: Member of Worship Team responsible for coordinating all music to be used in worship services throughout the year; Rehearsing and directing the Chancel Choir; Organist/pianist for weekly worship services and the special services of the liturgical year; Accompanist for Cherub, Gloria, and Youth Choirs; working collaboratively with Director of Children s Music and Handbell Choir Director in planning music schedule and rehearsals; wedding and funeral services as they arise. Chancel choir rehearsals are currently Thursday evening; Worship on Sunday morning is at 10 a.m. The church has a recently rebuilt Casavant-Freres pipe organ, digitally enhanced with Ahlborn-Galanti electronic voices, and a Steinway grand piano for use during worship. The candidate should be proficient in both organ and piano and willing to provide instrumental, choral and congregational music in a wide variety of musical styles to ensure the worship experience is as inclusive as possible. Prior experience with handbell choirs a plus. The successful candidate will receive competitive compensation based on qualifications, time-commitment and experience. ($20,000 - $25,000 +) Mountain Lakes is located in Morris County, New Jersey, located near the intersection of Routes 287 and 80. For more information, call the church office at (973) To apply, your resume, including references, to comchurch@optimum.net. Note: In addition to the local listings above, Members should check the National AGO website / TAO and the ChoralNet website for jobs within the Region. *************** Alto Section Leader Wanted St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Ardsley New York, is looking for a true ALTO for a small choir in very friendly Episcopal church. One rehearsal (8:45 am Sunday) and one service (10:00 am Sunday), plus additional services at Christmas and Holy Week/Easter. We seek someone who has strong sight reading skills, strong vocal skills and is responsible in learning parts and in attendance. Only true mezzos/altos, please. Compensation is $100/week which includes rehearsal and service. (Special services extra). Contact: Larry Wolf, Minister of Music, at larrywolf95@gmail.com or

10 From Your Newsletter Editors The Dean and the Executive Committee encourage you to send informative articles and any other items of interest for publication in the Newsletter. Also feel free to send pictures of your organ, with info about the builder. We will try to include them in the newsletter and post up on our website. The Trompette is sent out by and by regular mail to those members without an address. The electronic versions are sent out immediately after finalization, but processing the printed copies can take a week or more, plus the delivery of the regular postal mail can additionally take a week or more. If you have an address, but are presently receiving your copy by postal mail, consider receiving it electronically instead, saving the Chapter postage expense. Send your address to: Alice Avouris. Please send us your material by the 20 th of each month to ensure that we will be able to deliver the Newsletter to the membership on or about the 1 st of each month. If still relevant, late submissions will be published in the subsequent issue. Do not send in items more than once. For the Concert Calendar, include event, date, time, location, cost (if any) and an information phone number. (Incomplete or unclear submissions will not be included.) Due to space constraints, articles and notices are frequently edited. If you have provided a notice for the Empty Benches section, please be advised that postings will be carried for 3 calendar months unless we are advised that the position has either been filled or is still active. Newest listings appear first. Listings carried more than one month will be arranged chronologically by the month they were first run. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping The Trompette accurate and up-to-date. Send your concert notices, articles, and other materials to: Alice Avouris (MS Word is preferred) Be sure to visit the Chapter Website: Thank you! Alice Avouris The Trompette Editor 10

11 Here is the LATEST issue of the Westchester Chapter AGO Newsletter.. Inside: A word from John King, great job opportunities, a member reminisces, our new program schedule, and more! Westchester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists The Trompette Alice Avouris, Editor 11